Adult Canada geese undergo a complete molt during the summer months. This typically takes place in late June and early July. Canada geese select open areas near water and a food source to molt. This allows the geese to walk or swim everywhere that they need to during their flightless period. Essentially, they put themselves within walking distance of food and have an unobstructed view to avoid predation and other dangers. Ponds, lakes and bays serve as excellent locations to Canada geese during this phase of their lives. In urban areas, mowed lawns, parks, and golf courses suit their habitat requirements.

This molting period is a critical time frame in many goose management schemes. If timed properly, all Canada geese at any specific location are flightless. This flightless period makes the geese much more susceptible to capture for banding and recording.

CWA members Dieter Bromkamp, Rich Chmiel, Jackie Alix, Joe Alix and 9 other volunteers assisted Kelly Kubik and Min Huang of the CT DEEP in gathering, banding and recording geese in four locations around Southeastern Connecticut on June 19th. After meeting at 7:00 AM at Bluff Point State Park in Groton, the group started operations at the Groton Water Authority across Route 1 from the park. From that start, banding continued at Stonington Harbor, Long Pond, and the Thames River in New London.

The first gaggle was captured on the lawn of the Groton Water Authority and herded into the capture net on foot. Kelly Kubik is determining the sex of the goose before attaching a leg band.
Oden Seaholm waiting to pass a pair of geese over the fence for banding.
Julie Gauthier, Mary Lou Smith, Kailee Puzzo cuddling newly born goslings.
Jackie Alix and Sue Ann Tortolano pose with an immature goose waiting to be banded.
Min Huang closes the gate on the catch pen at Stonington Harbor.
Oden Seaholm doubles Rich Chmiel with geese while Sue Ann Tortolano and Dieter Bromkamp look on holding geese to be banded.
Sue Ann Tortolano holding a pair of goslings.
Min Huang preparing to start banding.
The next stop was at the pond at the Groton Water Authority where this gaggle was collected of the pond using kayaks and herded into the capture net.


Rich Chmiel determining the sex of the goose before...
Attaching the leg band.
At Long Pond, the geese we scattered across the far side and had to he rounded up.
Min instructs Sue Ann Tortolano on the procedure for sexing and banding a goose.
Mary Lou Smith learning from Kelly how to tuck the goose's head under a wing to subdue movement during the banding procedure.
At the mouth of the Thames River in new London, the geese were scattered over a wide area and the collection task looked daunting. However, the fleet managed to surround them and herd the large gaggle into the collection pen.
The "Official" CT DEEP banding workbench...


Was in full use by the end of the day.
Left to right:
Deiter Bromkamp(CWA), Joe Alix(CWA), Kailee Puzzo, Carol Morris-Scata, Jackie Alix(CWA), Kelly Kubic(CWA/DEEP), Rich Chmiel(CWA), Julie Gauthier, Min Huang(DEEP)
Goose Banding Final Results

I just wanted to thank everyone who came out and helped us with the banding this year.

We captured a total of 2,180 geese this season.  This included 1,326 new and 854 recaptured birds.  Hopefully we will see everyone back out with us next year.  Without all of the volunteers this project would not have been as successful as it was.
 
Please pass this email along to anyone who may have helped but is not on the email list.
 
Thanks,
 
Kelly
 
Kelly Kubik
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Division
Bureau of Natural Resources
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Franklin Swamp WMA
391 Route 32, North Franklin CT  06254